New Oil Pres. & Oil Temp Guages

[D7N7MASTER]

Okay. I bought oil pres. & oil temp. gages & senders. Ready to install. Our car is a 73-914 2.0. Thanks to Pelican Parts I've learned that the stock '73 wiring harness contained wiring provisions for the center console, volt meter, oil temp, & clock... Damn!!! Somebody removed the console before our car was "ours"... Interestingly enough - We recently refreshed the interior with new carpet. & I remember seeing wiring connectors that didn't go anywhere in the main harness. Didn't bother me at the time... Then I read a PP console installation article & realized that that's probably the wires that were the partial provision for the appearance group console. So obviously the wires are already there. So now I pull up our new carpet & sure enough, here are two female connectors with no terminations. So I connected my multi meter to each set. Set for DC Voltage. Guess what? One connector is powered - always on- even when the key is off. The other is not powered. When I look under our car, forgive me - I really am not sure - I have sinned - the only other air cooled cars I have ever had are Type I VW's.
So here I am ready to install my 914's new oil temp sensor. Jack 'er up, slip my underneath, I'm thinkin' about a post I read - taco plate - temp sensor under taco plate. What the F**K is a taco plate? If I remove what I believe to be a "taco plate", will I need new seals to re-assemble? And... What is the purpose of the "taco plate" HELP!!!

[bowlsby]

Lets see if I can get it all:

The 12V always on at the ccenter console must be for the clock.

The oil temp sender mounts to the 'taco plate' (I hate that name), which is a plate under the engine towards the front of the CAR...the plate mounts with two tall nuts to the engine sump. Use the hi temp silicone sealer if you need a gasket to remount the plate. A green/black stripe wire goes from the oil temp sender to the MAIN BODY HARNESS, to a long male wire terminal, which...should be just simply laying on the engine shelf under the battery (in the engine bay)...it should be inside a ~2 inch long plastic box protecting the wire terminal.

Not sure how to hook up the voltmeter gauge...

[D7N7MASTER]

Thanks Jeff, I'll look for that wire this afternoon. Then, sounds like I also need to run one more wire to connect the (dual) oil pres. sender to the new gage. Since I'm not adding a voltmeter, would it be acceptable to use the powered connectors in the wiring harness in the tunnel to power the + side of the new oil pres. & oil temp gages??? Anybody know what the purpose of the "taco plate" is???
Thanks, Gary

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Wiring diagram--check in the upper-right corner of the following link:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/parts/Electrical/914_electric_73C.jpg

Black wire: +12V constant, to the clock.
Brown wires: Ground.
Black/Blue wires: Illumination lights, +12V when parking lights or headlights are on.
Green/Black wire: Wire from the oil temp sender, goes to ground through a resistor that changes resistance depending on the oil temp.
Red/White wire: Power to the Voltmeter and Oil Temp gauges. +12V when the ignition is on.

There is no "accessory" position on the 914 ignition switch.


The "taco plate" is a plate that is on the underside of the motor. It may serve as access for inspecting things down there or something similar, but the plate's main purpose is to keep the oil from dumping onto the ground...

--DD

[D7N7MASTER]

Soooo, I need to remove the taco plate to install the temp sensor? There's one wire coming out of the taco plate now. Should I assume that there's already a temp sensor installed? Before I remove the taco plate I'd better get a new gasket. Anybody know the gasket p/n?
Thanks,
Gary